Leading figures from the Nigerian and global academia, media,
civil society, law and multi-national organisations from Africa,
Asia, Europe, and North America on Thursday called on Nigeria to
withdraw the NGO Regulatory Commission Bill currently being
considered by the National Assembly.
In a statement, the 54 signatories point out that the Bill “is
clearly intended to encourage the excesses of bad government”. They
argue that the Bill endangers constitutional guarantees of freedom
of association, assembly, speech as well as freedom of conscience
and religion and “will license unconstitutional discrimination
too.”
The statement recalls that “NGOs have been integral to Nigeria’s
democratisation”, noting that “because of the sacrifices and
leadership of NGOs in confronting years of military misrule,
members of the National Assembly can have the benefits and powers
they enjoy today.”
The signatories conclude that the NGO Regulation Bill is “a
distraction, a threat to Nigeria’s hard-won democracy and a
dis-incentive to investment at a time that the country need it. It
is both insensitive and unconscionable.”
To Nigeria’s National Assembly, they offer the suggestion that
“this is the time for the Nigerian National Assembly to prioritize
the serious business of the people by helping the country get out
of its current difficulties. If it chooses this path, it will find
willing and enthusiastic partners in Nigeria’s vibrant civil
society and NGO community.”
Please see the full statement and signatories below.
NGO REGULATION BILL: A GRAVE DANGER TO NIGERIA’S
DEMOCRACY
The on-going attempt by the National Assembly to pass a law to
control and undermine the operations of non-governmental
organisations, NGOs, should be condemned by every Nigerian. In the
grand scheme, this NGO Bill will create a government apparatus with
ungoverned discretion to determine whether an NGO exists or for how
long it will operate based on the dominant political whims of the
day. As drafted, it has no place in a democracy and is clearly
intended to encourage the excesses of bad government. It also
violates Nigeria’s constitutional guarantees of freedom of
association, assembly, speech and even of freedom of conscience and
religion. It will license unconstitutional discrimination too.
NGOs have been integral to Nigeria’s democratisation. Because of
the sacrifices and leadership of NGOs in confronting years of
military misrule, members of the National Assembly can have the
benefits and powers they enjoy today. In those years, soldiers
branded NGO activists as anti-government or sponsored by foreign
interests to destabilise. Thankfully, these voices remain active in
Nigeria today in the difficult task of keeping government in
check.
The proposals in this NGO Bill suggest that Nigeria’s Honourable
Members and Distinguished Senators desire to bring back to life all
the intolerance and high handedness of military rule, by clamping
down on voluntary organisations, stifling free speech, restricting
other political freedoms and dishonouring the tremendous sacrifices
that ordinary Nigerians make to sustain their civic life.
It is already public knowledge that there is an extensive body
of legislation governing the activities of NGOs in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s problem is not an absence of legislation but with
implementing them effectively.
In September 2017, the Nigerian House of Representatives
Committee on Civil Society will hold a public hearing on the Bill.
Every Nigerian of goodwill should lend their voices in condemning
this bill and encourage the National Assembly to withdraw it from
consideration. Nothing justifies the consideration or passage of
this toxic piece of legislation. Current events in other African
countries should remind us of the grave danger posed by the kind of
unfettered powers that this Bill seeks to grant government.
Nigeria is going through one of its most difficult times.
Nigeria’s democracy is endangered. The executive is operating in
disturbing levels of opacity. The reputation of the judiciary
remains mired in serious allegations of corruption. Many Nigerians
are suffering the consequences of negative economic growth, leading
to desperate livelihood conditions. Insecurity afflicts nearly
every part of the country in the form of Boko Haram atrocities,
inter-communal conflicts, rising kidnappings, massive fatalities
from conflicts between pastoralists and farmers, and growing number
of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Poor health outcomes and
indicators as a result of the continual reduction of life
expectancy, increase in the incidence of malnutrition, high rate of
maternal and child mortality among others.
In the face of these existential problems, this NGO Bill is a
distraction, a threat to Nigeria’s hard-won democracy and a
dis-incentive to investment at a time that the country need it. It
is both insensitive and unconscionable. Along with other proposals
such as the Bill to regulate social media content, grant amnesty to
treasury looters and give immunity to legislators, it is part of a
growing list of abuse of legislative powers.
It is important that the Nigerian National Assembly at this
point should have an honest examination of its actions and take
steps to salvage its credibility. This is the time for the Nigerian
National Assembly to prioritise the serious business of the people
by helping the country get out of its current difficulties. If it
chooses this path, it will find willing and enthusiastic partners
in Nigeria’s vibrant civil society and NGO community.
Signed:
1. Maina Kiai,
Former UN Special Rapporteur on the Freedom of Association
2. Ayo Obe,
Former President, Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO
3. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN,
Life Bencher & former President, Nigerian Bar Association
(NBA), Lagos Nigeria
Former President, West African Bar Association (WABA)
5. Edetaen Ojo,
Co-Chair, National Steering Committee, Nigeria Open Government
Partnership (OGP) and Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda.
6. Chetan Bhatt,
Director, Centre for the Study of Human Rights, London School of
Economics & Political Science, (LSE), London UK
7. Idayat Hassan
Executive Director, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) West
Africa, Abuja Nigeria
8. Saudatu Mahdi
Executive Director, Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection
Alternative (WRAPA), Nigeria
9. Wale Okediran
Former Member, House of Representatives, Abuja.
10. Ben Anyene
Chairman, National Immunization Financing Task Team (NIFT) and
Chairman, Health Sector Reform Coalition, Abuja Nigeria
11. Amma Ogan,
Former Editor, The Independent Newspaper, South Africa
12. Jibrin Ibrahim,
Senior Fellow, Centre for Democracy & Development West Africa,
(CDD West Africa) Abuja Nigeria
13. Dapo Olorunyomi,
Publisher, Premium Times Newspaper, Abuja Nigeria
14. Otive Igbuzor
Executive Director, African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and
Development (Centre LSD), Abuja Nigeria
15. Yunusa Ya’u,
Executive Director, Centre for Information Technology and
Development (CITAD), Kano Nigeria
16. Innocent Chukwuma,
Founder, CLEEN Foundation
Chairman, Editorial Board, Thisday Newspapers, Lagos Nigeria
18. Simon Kolawole,
Publisher, The Cable, Abuja Nigeria
19. Kole Shettima,
Director of Africa Office, MacArthur Foundation, Abuja Nigeria
20. Adele Jinadu,
Emeritus President, African Political Science Association
21. Nsongurua Udombana,
Pro-Chancellor, Ritman University, Ikot-Ekpene
22. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu,
Chairman, Governing Council, Section on Public Interest &
Development Law (SPIDEL), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
23. Pascal K Kambale,
Human Rights lawyer; former law reform commissioner, the Democratic
Republic of Congo
24. Yusufu Pam,
Former Attorney-General, Plateau State;
25. Ayo Atsenuwa,
Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, Nigeria
26. Adetokunbo Mumuni,
Executive Director, Socio-Economic Rights & Accountability
Project (SERAP), Lagos Nigeria
27. Kolawole Olaniyan,
Legal Adviser, Amnesty International Nigeria, Abuja Nigeria
28. Eze Anaba,
Editor, Vanguard Newspaper
29. Ayisha Osori,
Chair, Board of Directors, Open Society Initiative for West Africa
(OSIWA), Abuja Nigeria
30. Makmid Kamara,
Deputy Director & Ag. Head of ESCR Team, Amnesty International,
London UK
31. Osai Ojigho,
Director, Amnesty International Nigeria, Abuja Nigeria
32. Achieng Maureen Akena,
Executive Director, The Pan African Citizens Network (formerly
CCPAU), Nairobi Kenya
33. Dinah Musindarwezo,
Executive Director, African Women’s Development and Communication
Network (FEMNET), Nairobi Kenya
34. Martha Makenge,
Ag. Chief Executive Officer / Programmes Coordinator, East African
Civil Society Organizations’ Forum, (EACSOF), Nairobi Kenya
35. Chido Onumah,
Coordinator, African Centre for Media & Information Literacy,
Abuja Nigeria
36. Isaac ‘Asume’ Osuoka,
Director, Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action),
Port Harcourt, Nigeria
37. ‘Gbenga Sesan,
Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative, Lagos Nigeria
38. Oluseun Onigbinde,
Lead Partner, BudgIT Nigeria, Lagos Nigeria
39. Bronwen Manby,
Visiting Senior Fellow, Centre for the Study of Human Rights,
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), London
UK
40. Samson Itodo
Executive Director, Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth &
Advancement (YIAGA), Abuja Nigeria
41. Seember Nyager,
Chief Executive Officer, Public and Private Development Centre
(PPDC), Abuja Nigeria
42. Akwe Amosu,
Chief Integration Officer, Open Society Foundations, New York,
USA
43. Dismas Nkunda,
Executive Director, Atrocities Watch-Africa, Kampala, Uganda
44. Agnes Ebo’o,
Founder, Citizens Governance Initiative, Yaounde, Cameroon
45. ‘Yemi Adamolekun
Executive Director, EiE Nigeria, Lagos Nigeria
46. Udo Jude Ilo
Country Officer and Head of Office, Open Society Initiative for
West Africa (OSIWA), Abuja Nigeria
47. Benson Olugbuo,
Executive Director, CLEEN Foundation
48. Iheoma Obibi
Executive Director, Alliances for Africa, London Uk
49. Blessing Oparaocha
Coordinator, Nigeria Feminist Forum, Lagos Nigeria.
50. Auwal ‘Rasfanjani’ Musa
Exective Director, CISLAC, Abuja Nigeria,
51. Eze Onyekpere Executive Director, Centre for Social Justice
(CSJ), Abuja Nigeria
52. Abiodun Baiyewu
Executive Director, Global Rights, Abuja Nigeria
53. Emma Sokpo
Director, Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), Abuja
Nigeria
54. Mike Ogirima
National President, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Abuja
Nigeria
Leading figures from the Nigerian and global academia, media,
civil society, law and multi-national organisations from Africa,
Asia, Europe, and North America on Thursday called on Nigeria to
withdraw the NGO Regulatory Commission Bill currently being
considered by the National Assembly.
In a statement, the 54 signatories point out that the Bill “is
clearly intended to encourage the excesses of bad government”. They
argue that the Bill endangers constitutional guarantees of freedom
of association, assembly, speech as well as freedom of conscience
and religion and “will license unconstitutional discrimination
too.”
The statement recalls that “NGOs have been integral to Nigeria’s
democratisation”, noting that “because of the sacrifices and
leadership of NGOs in confronting years of military misrule,
members of the National Assembly can have the benefits and powers
they enjoy today.”
The signatories conclude that the NGO Regulation Bill is “a
distraction, a threat to Nigeria’s hard-won democracy and a
dis-incentive to investment at a time that the country need it. It
is both insensitive and unconscionable.”
To Nigeria’s National Assembly, they offer the suggestion that
“this is the time for the Nigerian National Assembly to prioritize
the serious business of the people by helping the country get out
of its current difficulties. If it chooses this path, it will find
willing and enthusiastic partners in Nigeria’s vibrant civil
society and NGO community.”
Please see the full statement and signatories below.
NGO REGULATION BILL: A GRAVE DANGER TO NIGERIA’S
DEMOCRACY
The on-going attempt by the National Assembly to pass a law to
control and undermine the operations of non-governmental
organisations, NGOs, should be condemned by every Nigerian. In the
grand scheme, this NGO Bill will create a government apparatus with
ungoverned discretion to determine whether an NGO exists or for how
long it will operate based on the dominant political whims of the
day. As drafted, it has no place in a democracy and is clearly
intended to encourage the excesses of bad government. It also
violates Nigeria’s constitutional guarantees of freedom of
association, assembly, speech and even of freedom of conscience and
religion. It will license unconstitutional discrimination too.
NGOs have been integral to Nigeria’s democratisation. Because of
the sacrifices and leadership of NGOs in confronting years of
military misrule, members of the National Assembly can have the
benefits and powers they enjoy today. In those years, soldiers
branded NGO activists as anti-government or sponsored by foreign
interests to destabilise. Thankfully, these voices remain active in
Nigeria today in the difficult task of keeping government in
check.
The proposals in this NGO Bill suggest that Nigeria’s Honourable
Members and Distinguished Senators desire to bring back to life all
the intolerance and high handedness of military rule, by clamping
down on voluntary organisations, stifling free speech, restricting
other political freedoms and dishonouring the tremendous sacrifices
that ordinary Nigerians make to sustain their civic life.
It is already public knowledge that there is an extensive body
of legislation governing the activities of NGOs in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s problem is not an absence of legislation but with
implementing them effectively.
In September 2017, the Nigerian House of Representatives
Committee on Civil Society will hold a public hearing on the Bill.
Every Nigerian of goodwill should lend their voices in condemning
this bill and encourage the National Assembly to withdraw it from
consideration. Nothing justifies the consideration or passage of
this toxic piece of legislation. Current events in other African
countries should remind us of the grave danger posed by the kind of
unfettered powers that this Bill seeks to grant government.
Nigeria is going through one of its most difficult times.
Nigeria’s democracy is endangered. The executive is operating in
disturbing levels of opacity. The reputation of the judiciary
remains mired in serious allegations of corruption. Many Nigerians
are suffering the consequences of negative economic growth, leading
to desperate livelihood conditions. Insecurity afflicts nearly
every part of the country in the form of Boko Haram atrocities,
inter-communal conflicts, rising kidnappings, massive fatalities
from conflicts between pastoralists and farmers, and growing number
of internally displaced persons (IDPs). Poor health outcomes and
indicators as a result of the continual reduction of life
expectancy, increase in the incidence of malnutrition, high rate of
maternal and child mortality among others.
In the face of these existential problems, this NGO Bill is a
distraction, a threat to Nigeria’s hard-won democracy and a
dis-incentive to investment at a time that the country need it. It
is both insensitive and unconscionable. Along with other proposals
such as the Bill to regulate social media content, grant amnesty to
treasury looters and give immunity to legislators, it is part of a
growing list of abuse of legislative powers.
It is important that the Nigerian National Assembly at this
point should have an honest examination of its actions and take
steps to salvage its credibility. This is the time for the Nigerian
National Assembly to prioritise the serious business of the people
by helping the country get out of its current difficulties. If it
chooses this path, it will find willing and enthusiastic partners
in Nigeria’s vibrant civil society and NGO community.
Signed:
1. Maina Kiai,
Former UN Special Rapporteur on the Freedom of Association
2. Ayo Obe,
Former President, Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO
3. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN,
Life Bencher & former President, Nigerian Bar Association
(NBA), Lagos Nigeria
Former President, West African Bar Association (WABA)
5. Edetaen Ojo,
Co-Chair, National Steering Committee, Nigeria Open Government
Partnership (OGP) and Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda.
6. Chetan Bhatt,
Director, Centre for the Study of Human Rights, London School of
Economics & Political Science, (LSE), London UK
7. Idayat Hassan
Executive Director, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) West
Africa, Abuja Nigeria
8. Saudatu Mahdi
Executive Director, Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection
Alternative (WRAPA), Nigeria
9. Wale Okediran
Former Member, House of Representatives, Abuja.
10. Ben Anyene
Chairman, National Immunization Financing Task Team (NIFT) and
Chairman, Health Sector Reform Coalition, Abuja Nigeria
11. Amma Ogan,
Former Editor, The Independent Newspaper, South Africa
12. Jibrin Ibrahim,
Senior Fellow, Centre for Democracy & Development West Africa,
(CDD West Africa) Abuja Nigeria
13. Dapo Olorunyomi,
Publisher, Premium Times Newspaper, Abuja Nigeria
14. Otive Igbuzor
Executive Director, African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and
Development (Centre LSD), Abuja Nigeria
15. Yunusa Ya’u,
Executive Director, Centre for Information Technology and
Development (CITAD), Kano Nigeria
16. Innocent Chukwuma,
Founder, CLEEN Foundation
Chairman, Editorial Board, Thisday Newspapers, Lagos Nigeria
18. Simon Kolawole,
Publisher, The Cable, Abuja Nigeria
19. Kole Shettima,
Director of Africa Office, MacArthur Foundation, Abuja Nigeria
20. Adele Jinadu,
Emeritus President, African Political Science Association
21. Nsongurua Udombana,
Pro-Chancellor, Ritman University, Ikot-Ekpene
22. Chidi Anselm Odinkalu,
Chairman, Governing Council, Section on Public Interest &
Development Law (SPIDEL), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
23. Pascal K Kambale,
Human Rights lawyer; former law reform commissioner, the Democratic
Republic of Congo
24. Yusufu Pam,
Former Attorney-General, Plateau State;
25. Ayo Atsenuwa,
Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, Nigeria
26. Adetokunbo Mumuni,
Executive Director, Socio-Economic Rights & Accountability
Project (SERAP), Lagos Nigeria
27. Kolawole Olaniyan,
Legal Adviser, Amnesty International Nigeria, Abuja Nigeria
28. Eze Anaba,
Editor, Vanguard Newspaper
29. Ayisha Osori,
Chair, Board of Directors, Open Society Initiative for West Africa
(OSIWA), Abuja Nigeria
30. Makmid Kamara,
Deputy Director & Ag. Head of ESCR Team, Amnesty International,
London UK
31. Osai Ojigho,
Director, Amnesty International Nigeria, Abuja Nigeria
32. Achieng Maureen Akena,
Executive Director, The Pan African Citizens Network (formerly
CCPAU), Nairobi Kenya
33. Dinah Musindarwezo,
Executive Director, African Women’s Development and Communication
Network (FEMNET), Nairobi Kenya
34. Martha Makenge,
Ag. Chief Executive Officer / Programmes Coordinator, East African
Civil Society Organizations’ Forum, (EACSOF), Nairobi Kenya
35. Chido Onumah,
Coordinator, African Centre for Media & Information Literacy,
Abuja Nigeria
36. Isaac ‘Asume’ Osuoka,
Director, Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action),
Port Harcourt, Nigeria
37. ‘Gbenga Sesan,
Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative, Lagos Nigeria
38. Oluseun Onigbinde,
Lead Partner, BudgIT Nigeria, Lagos Nigeria
39. Bronwen Manby,
Visiting Senior Fellow, Centre for the Study of Human Rights,
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), London
UK
40. Samson Itodo
Executive Director, Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth &
Advancement (YIAGA), Abuja Nigeria
41. Seember Nyager,
Chief Executive Officer, Public and Private Development Centre
(PPDC), Abuja Nigeria
42. Akwe Amosu,
Chief Integration Officer, Open Society Foundations, New York,
USA
43. Dismas Nkunda,
Executive Director, Atrocities Watch-Africa, Kampala, Uganda
44. Agnes Ebo’o,
Founder, Citizens Governance Initiative, Yaounde, Cameroon
45. ‘Yemi Adamolekun
Executive Director, EiE Nigeria, Lagos Nigeria
46. Udo Jude Ilo
Country Officer and Head of Office, Open Society Initiative for
West Africa (OSIWA), Abuja Nigeria
47. Benson Olugbuo,
Executive Director, CLEEN Foundation
48. Iheoma Obibi
Executive Director, Alliances for Africa, London Uk
49. Blessing Oparaocha
Coordinator, Nigeria Feminist Forum, Lagos Nigeria.
50. Auwal ‘Rasfanjani’ Musa
Exective Director, CISLAC, Abuja Nigeria,
51. Eze Onyekpere Executive Director, Centre for Social Justice
(CSJ), Abuja Nigeria
52. Abiodun Baiyewu
Executive Director, Global Rights, Abuja Nigeria
53. Emma Sokpo
Director, Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), Abuja
Nigeria
54. Mike Ogirima
National President, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Abuja
Nigeria